Theme overview

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission relies on two registered lampricides, 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) and niclosamide to control sea lamprey populations in the Great Lakes. Despite the highly successful use of these lampricides, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and its partners continue to work together to investigate how to improve lampricide efficacy and safety. Current research on TFM and niclosamide is focused on improving treatment effectiveness, predicting and minimizing the effects of lampricides on non-target organisms, understanding the modes of toxic action of TFM and niclosamide, developing next generation lampricides, and ascertaining the environmental fate of lampricides. Emerging research ideas include assessing the possibility of lampricide resistance in sea lamprey and strategies to develop novel lampricides that are more environmentally benign. Use of novel technologies in genomics and green chemistry are also emerging as key research directions in the search for more effective means to control invasive sea lamprey in the Great Lakes.

Theme leaders

Relevant resources

Lampricide Research Compendium – The compendium provides descriptions and data on a wide range of studies investigating the toxicity/toxicological effects of TFM and niclosamide on target and non-target organisms, as well as research results on the environmental fate of these lampricides.

A complete list of completion reports and scientific papers resulting from this theme can be found in the commission's publication database.

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission was established in 1955 by the Canadian/U.S. Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries. The commission coordinates fisheries research, controls the invasive sea lamprey, and facilitates cooperative fishery management among the state, provincial, tribal, and federal agencies.